“But I hope that by the race in Austin, we know where we are going,” he added.

Notwithstanding the stalemate, rumours continue to run.

One is that the decision to scrap the newly-confirmed 2016 regulation requiring manufacturers to supply current-year engines to customers was made in order to keep the 2015-spec Ferrari power unit option on the table for Red Bull.

Another is that while Red Bull’s rumoured idea to resurrect a normally-aspirated V8 option for 2016, the energy drink marque could be setting its F1 sights a little further down the road.

Ralf Bach, a German correspondent with his own blog at f1-insider.com, reports that for 2018, an engine formula to run parallel to the current ‘power units’ could arrive, having secured FIA president Jean Todt’s approval.